March 27, 2008
Robin Croft
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
650- 604-6787
Deborah.R.Croft@NASA.gov
MEDIA ADVISORY: 08_21AR
NASA STUDIES MICROBES ON SPACE SHUTTLE FLIGHT
Moffett Field, Calif. - NASA launched four microbial experiments
aboard the space shuttle Endeavour on March 11, 2008. NASA Ames
Research Center's Fundamental Biology Research group is managing this
flight project. The purpose of sending the microbes into space is to
determine how they respond to spaceflight and whether their virulence
or resistance to drugs is altered.
The space-borne microbes are contained in special equipment developed
by Bioserve Inc, of Boulder, Colo. The microorganisms are the focus
of the work of four Ames-sponsored researchers: Cheryl Nickerson of
the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz.;
Barry Pyle at Montana State University in Billings, Mont.; and two
University of Texas Medical Branch researchers David Niesel and
Michael McGinnis in Galveston,Texas.
"Three of the four experiments were flown previously on the space
shuttle. This flight offers the scientists an opportunity to confirm
and build upon their previous results," said Kenneth A. Souza,
manager of Fundamental Biology Research Projects at Ames.
Nickerson's experiment focuses on Salmonella typhimurium, a leading
cause of food-borne illness. Nickerson's previous study of Salmonella
flew on the space shuttle Atlantis in 2006 and showed, for the first
time, that spaceflight not only altered the bacterial gene
expression, but also increased the ability of these organisms to
cause disease in mice.
In this experiment, the team will confirm their previous findings and
determine if the modulation of different mineral concentrations may
be used to counteract or block the spaceflight-associated increase in
the disease-causing potential that was seen in Salmonella during
Nickerson's first experiment.
Niesel's experiment involves Streptococcus pneumonia, an
"opportunistic bacterium" that's normally harmless, but can be a
potent pathogen in infants, the elderly and people who have a weaker
than normal immune system, including astronauts on long duration
spaceflights.
McGinnis is experimenting with the common yeast, Saccharomyces
cerevisiae. This flight study will help answer the question of
whether microgravity affects antifungal drug resistance in the yeast
under actual spaceflight conditions.
Pyle is studying Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common water-borne
bacterium that has been found in the space shuttle water system, thus
posing a potential hazard to humans, especially during long-duration
spaceflights.
Information gained from these experiments is intended to provide
insight into the molecular basis of microbial virulence and determine
if microbial resistance to an antimicrobial agent is altered by
spaceflight. The results from these studies may also help scientists
develop strategies for the prevention and treatment of disease caused
by these microbes, both on the ground and during spaceflight.
“This mission enabled us to utilize the International Space Station
and the space shuttle to increase our fundamental understanding of
microbial adaptation to the space environment. With the information
obtained, we hope to reduce the health risks to our crews during
future exploration missions," said Carl Walz, director of the Applied
Capabilities Division at NASA Headquarters' Exploration Systems
Mission Directorate.
For more information about NASA programs, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov
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